OREGON COAST – There’s an interesting aspect to Oregon’s coast that’s still a bit of a secret to even most Oregon natives: this is the warmest time of the year on the beach.

It’s called the “second summer,” and some have even nicknamed it the “first summer of the Oregon coast” because of its often-marked difference from July and August, which can be a bit drizzly. They call it “Indian summer” inland, but on these beaches, September and early October bring the nicest conditions of the year – in a variety of unexpected ways. Thanks to fewer crowds, lodging prices that begin tumbling and other aspects, it’s the niftiest of times to hit the shoreline.

The second summer lasts until mid-October, often even longer. It’s typified by sunnier weather, warmer temperatures, less wind and less fog in most years. Fall of 2007 was a little less second summer-like than usual, but this year has been living proof of the state’s loveliest weather secret.

“The last 10 days have been gorgeous – with the exception of today, with all the fog,” said Lorna Davis, Executive Director of the Newport Chamber on Tuesday. “We’ve had some pretty phenomenal weather lately, most of this month. It doesn’t happen every year, but there are some years it lasts until way into late October. It’s fall then, but on the coast it’s more like weather for shorts and flip-flops.”

Behind all this glorious sun and fun is an interesting bit of science. During the summer, the ocean is warmed up. By September, aided by warmer waters, the differences in temperature between the valley and the coast are less, which cuts down the fog and the wind, allowing warmer east winds and winds from the south to cut through and heat things up even further. The result is less cloudy days and more summer-like conditions.

That, in turn, makes for some other killer fun to be had on the beaches, like whale watching. It may not be peak migration season, but chances are decent you’ll see more whales because of smaller waves.

“When you’ve got more east winds or less wind in general, you have calmer waves,” said Keith Chandler, manager of Seaside Aquarium. “Big waves hide the whales. But with smaller surf, you can see them more easily, see them spouting and so on.”

What makes this time of year even more attractive is the lack of crowds, except on the weekends, as this secret of the second summer is getting out. The kids are in school, fewer vacationers can get away, and the beaches are often nearly empty of people on nearly tropical days, especially during the week.

“It’s definitely a more laidback coast,” said Chandler. “The travelers that are out there are the older ones, who are taking their time.”

Lower lodging prices and more specials pop up almost immediately after Labor Day Weekend. Not everyone lowers their general prices, but many do. Even more start touting specials.

“That’s not to say everything is cheaper in September,” Davis said. “But many lodgings start hosting specials. And it doesn’t hurt to ask when booking. There may be specials that aren’t published.”

Seaside doesn’t typically lower lodging prices until after September. It’s busy enough throughout the first part of second summer it doesn’t need to. Other towns will start dropping their lodging rates, but it depends on the lodging.

However, by the end of September, just about everyone is not only holding specials but dropping weekend rates as well. By October, when second summer days are still quite prevalent, it’s getting cheaper to stay on the coast.

Prices typically plunge to winter rates by the early part of November.

Other details make for some remarkable moments. In Newport, Davis said numerous fishing and crabbing possibilities are still prime.

“There’s a lot to do outdoors here,” she said. “Crabbing is big on the bay. Sport fishing still has lots of possibilities, with plenty of charter fishing operations out of the bay.”

To really soak in the last-minute rays, outdoor dining stays quite big on the coast throughout this shoulder season. Newport has the most restaurants with outdoor dining areas than anywhere on the Oregon coast, clocking in at about 12 eateries at last count. Newport’s Nye Beach neighborhood has two extremely prominent possibilities: Village Bistro and Deli and Café Stephanie. With Village Bistro you have a lovely view of the beach.

Cannon Beach comes in second with about seven, including Cannon Beach Fultano’s Pizza and Warren House Pub.

In Bay City, right on Tillamook Bay, there’s the stunning deep blue bay to take in during the warmer days at Pacific Seafood. Since it’s a ways inland, it’s also often measurably warmer at this massive seafood market and eatery.

In the more esoteric realm, those strange little critters that cause the sand to glow at night are often in abundance this time of year. They’re called dinoflagellates, and under the right conditions, you’ll see the sand glowing with faint bluish, green sparks if you walk on an area where they are. You’ll need a very dark beach, and you’ll need to shuffle your feet on the wet sand near the tide line to see it. The gleefully strange phenomenon is nicknamed “glowing sand” – or “star stompin’ “ by some locals.

It all makes for an especially enticing time of year for the region. But don’t tell everyone: it’s still a bit of a secret.

Andre' Hagestedt is the editor of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, a travel news and entertainment Web site about the upper half of Oregon’s coast. He has been a journalist for nearly 15 years, having been employed at or written for a variety of media organizations throughout the Northwest. He lives in Portland and in Manzanita part time, and admits he is "so obsessed with the Oregon coast that it's ready to take a restraining order out on him."